WebLog Assignment

Working in the course Blog Place produce a weblog (on-line journal) to demonstrate your preparation for class and your engagement with course events including assigned readings, films and invited speakers.

Blogger  / Live Journal /  Xanga

In some instances, but not in every instance, I will present questions or queries to guide your blogs.

The form of a given weblog entry is limited only by available technology and can include, separately or in any combination, textual, audio, photographic or videographic information.  (There will be a workshop to help you create and begin producing your blog).

Blog entries are due following course events and prior to the next scheduled class meeting.

Check out each other’s blogs! Everyone appreciates comments on their blog!

Lannie Davis / John Fullerman / Jessica Gall / Emily Koesters / Michael Nettling / Joseph Onk / Luke Smrdel 

WebLog 5: (250 word limit)  

As Apple develops his concept of  "conservative modernization" Slattery asserts the emergence of "postmodern curriculum development" and currere.   Given what we have explored to date, imagine a dialogue between these two figures. 

WebLog 4: (250 word limit) Please bring a prop to class to support your blog 4 entry.

Due 10 February 2011

What are you teaching right now?  What text book are you using right now? Given your understanding of Slattery (2006) chapter 2, how might you begin to question the content of your class and the experiences your students are having in your class?

As you read Slattery (2006) chapter 3, consider the theme of autobiography and the practice of currere. What personal and professional assumptions about your experiences of being in the field of education are brought to your consciousness? 

WebLog 3: responding to Apple, M. (2006) Chapter 2, Whose markets, whose knowledge? pp. 29-52

Due 3 February 2011

In his introduction to chapter 2, Apple writes, "What I hope to do [...] is to provide an outline of some of the major tensions surrounding education in the United States as it moves in conservative directions."

For this blog post, please indicate what these major tensions are and, according to Apple, why they are tensions. Additionally, suggest your response to Apple.  What might you remove from his outline? Further, what other tensions might you substitute or add?  (250 word limit).

WebLog 2

Based on your reading: Apple, M. (2006)  Chapter 1, Markets, standards, God, and inequality. pp. 1-28

Please establish a means of questioning this text, perhaps through a series of questions, a means of analysis or perhaps a protocol that we might use to guide our discussion.

(250 word limit)

WebLog 1: CLASS SURVEY
Personal information
1. Name, hometown, primary email.
2. What name do you prefer to be called?
3. Grade level and subject(s) that you are teaching / want to teach. (For graduate students: undergraduate and graduate degree(s), education license(s), current employment: grade level, subject(s) if applicable, district).
4. What are you into; what makes you special? Share a few “unique” aspects about yourself that would help our classroom community get to know you a bit better.

Learning Style and more:
5. Being as specific as you can, what must be in place for you to feel comfortable taking intellectual and creative risks in a classroom?

6. I am interested in your perception of yourself as a student. Please describe it. Consider such criteria as a) active oral class participation; b) responsible, timely class preparation (of readings, projects, etc.); c) honest, candid self-assessment; d) awareness of your own preferred learning styles/approaches; e) first thing that you do when you cannot or do not understand something; f)other dimensions you believe to be relevant and informative.

7. Is there anything I should know about you, your learning style, or life situation that may be relevant to your successful performance in this course? (Please decide what to share with the class and what to share in confidence with me).

Education Past and Present

8. Share a formative memory from your experiences as a student.

9. Please discuss what are, for you, the some significant issues or concerns facing the field of education right now.

10. Let’s imagine, humbly, that this course is definitely going to be the most meaningful and relevant course you’ve ever experienced. EVER. Drawing on your past experience in classrooms, and thinking uniquely, specifically and BIG, describe what we need to (1) DO (activities/projects), (2) STUDY (content topics and compelling issues/questions), (3) BE (interacting with each other) and (4) AVOID (in the previous three categories) in order for your visionary views of an ideal course to be mostly realized.

About Dr. Shutkin:
11. Write down a question or two you would like to ask me about myself or the class.

ED556 BlogSpot Spring 2011

Julie Butler/Monica Dietz/John Garber/Katelyn Koliha /Dassi Levine-Shtern

/Debra Long/Christina Malinowski/Victoria Morley/Rachel Morse /Amanda Rassi